Cranberry Apple Parfait {Recipe}

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Today is the first day of winter.  There’s a little sadness as I type those words.  It’s just that I love everything about fall and hate to see it go.  The cooler temperatures, excitement over a new school year, seeing leaves change in other parts of the country, and the food…oh, the fall foods.  I love them all.  The crisp taste cranberry, the sweet taste of apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and so, so many more.  I can’t get enough.  And as much as I know fall has to go, I don’t want it to end.  But instead of moping, I decided to create a snack that incorporated my favorite fall tastes.  And when I was done I had this delicious Cranberry Apple Parfait made with Quaker Simply Granola.  Because who says granola is only for breakfast?

The thing that I love about this recipe is how easy it is.  Yes, it requires some time on the stove, but it’s a little over 10 minutes and so very worth it to infuse the taste of the apples and the cranberry.  And all the ingredients for the parfait were available at my local Walmart.  I thought that I’d find the granola in the snack aisle, but it’s actually in the cereal aisle. 

Even better, this recipe is perfect for the whole family.  My husband loves the crunch of the Quaker Simply Granola, I love the sweet taste of the fruit, and, unlike some other kids, my kids go crazy for Greek yogurt.  In fact, it’s pretty common for Hazeline to eat more than one container of Greek yogurt in a sitting.  So instead of her normal Greek yogurt, I gave her one of these parfaits after Greenleigh’s soccer game the other night and it was a hit.  I just make sure to use plastic container when I give it to her….turns out those cute plastic mason jars I got at Walmart over the summer aren’t just for around the pool!

Want to make this fall inspired parfait for yourself?  Luckily, there are still a few more weeks left in cranberry season, so while fall has to go, you still have time to make this recipe!

You will need:
2 cups Quaker Simply Granola
3-4 cups chopped red apples (I used 2 Pink Lady apples)
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
2 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup maple syrup (I actually used a little less, but it’s up to you)
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2-3 cups Vanilla Honey Greek Yogurt

Step 1 – Heat butter in medium-sized skillet over medium heat.  Allow butter to melt completely and bubble just a bit.

Step 2 – Add apples to the butter in the skillet and cook for 3 minutes, stirring as the apples heat.

Step 3 – Add maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg and stir.  Cook for an additional 4 minutes.

Step 4 – Add cranberries and cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring often.  Once a majority of the cranberries have burst, remove skillet from stove and allow to cool completely.

Step 5 – As soon as the apple cranberry mixture is cooled, spoon a small amount of yogurt into the bottom of your glass or jar.

Note:  Originally I planned to make my own Honey Vanilla Greek Yogurt for this recipe by adding a few tablespoons of honey to plain or vanilla Greek yogurt.  But then I saw this at Walmart – 

Needless to say, that’s what I bought.  It made this recipe even easier and tasted really good.  If you can find it, take the short cut and buy Honey Vanilla Greek Yogurt.  If you can’t, simply add a 2-3 tablespoons of yogurt to a few cups of plain or vanilla Greek yogurt.  An extra step, but it shouldn’t take long.  Or you could just do this recipe with regular vanilla yogurt, depending on your preferences.

Step 6 – Once the yogurt is in the bottom of your glass, top with the Cranberry apple mixture and then pour on some Quaker Simply Granola.  Go ahead, be generous.  After all, it’s a big box and the 2 cups for this recipe is only a recommendation.  Once you’ve topped it with granola, repeat your steps layering the Greek yogurt, cranberry apple mixture, and granola until you’re glass is full.

Then dig in and enjoy!